The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-08
A HEBREJv COMIC OPERA.
The Roumania Opera House Opened with .
Novel Entertainment.

Mover entertainment
A few days ago several painters perched
on a rude platform suspended at q giddy height
above the Bowery. near Grand street. and
brushed out tho musty old legend National
Theatre" that formerly identified ono Of the
buildings from its neighbors. They substl-
tutod for It in bright letters "Roumania
Opera House," and also bestowed deal Of
dark color on the front wall. from tho upper
windows to the sidewalk. The change in color
and name indicated novelties in the interior,
and last evening several hundred east side peo-
pie paid for tho privilege Of going in to listen
to the first production OF an opera written and
composed by local talent.
The Roumania is long. narrow room. with
gallery built over moro than half OF 1t. The
walls and ceiling are frescoed. the proscenium
arch Is gilded, and tho auditorium ID Lighted
on the familiar tinted paper affected BY up
town show houses, and in the lobby are ma
Shock haired boys parade the aisles. between
acts selling apples. candy. and photographs.
a Wiz is edsr
rivals Prices are comparatively high. Were
It not for the programme; i might 5e taken ioF
make any but an Orientaist stand aghast. It
Is nearly all eouched in retroactive Hebrew.
ha 0ns
pocS with ~ Tas music anS
Moeuesko. and the latter is the chief come
dian OF the performance: for in spite Of the
that the opera follows Closely the Bible story.
most Of the scenes hnd Dialogues abound In
sHapsray and KaS
are brothers represented BY Messrs; Necham-
and their curious antics are continual sources
OF merriment. There are twenty characters
so n the c fOr
this generous fashion:
Of ,.s and
hsf.as s.nssarin Pseps sssphsra: Esypian Ffsss:
tsn Ts
siaveS Princesers Lions Monkeys Elephants Devils
With all these and special scenery designed
the tebieaux. There were flashing s' costumes
small that the King had to keep his eyes open
and dodge pretty lively to avoid getting ban
nifty OF an infant. The two mothers were
ss 70
dialogue followed; IN which each mother pro-
VIII IS dsa%n over so it's
Of man to do that, for the clothes feli Oh from
the baby and exposed its papier mache artl-
hciality 80 that @he real mothers In the audi
ence laughed. But the men. who took the thing
with historical solemnity, uttered warning
Every effort Is made by the attaches to rem
der the performance Ineligible to all the
spectators. Several live babies less than a
year old were present In arms, and they we're
not at all times amenable to the discipline OF
the theatre. On such occasions, when timid
ushers proceeded post haste to the locality and
informed the guilty mother that eho must quiet
that child OIL This vague threat was en-
forced on one young mother by four ushers,
who argued In low whispers and impressive
gestures that tho play and the baby could not
smiling up the aisle. her chubby-faced bald
headed yonngster Growing and gurGling on her
shoulder. She wante to hear the opera. how
ever. and accordingly Joined the standees un-
der the gallery. To quiet the, baby she gave
him one.of the programmes. which he proceed
expressions OF content AT every rip and every
gurgle the ushers frowned In chorus
Music0ily tho performance was OF the light
est of light opera STYLE love and comic songs
alternating with march and waltz tunes. There
from the key, and a little that was pleasing by
contrast. Tho audience enjoyed it all. and es-
pecially Mr.. Mogulesko's efforts, and recalls
were almost as frequent as the tableaux.
Tho National Opera In Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. THE National
Opera season. under the proprietorship OF
Charles E. Locke. opened at the Academy of
Music tonight. The Academy was literally
packed to tho doors. from parquet to gallery,
and the opera OF Nero" with its grand music